Skyfall is the James Bond franchise’s strongest-ever shot at an Oscar for best picture, but whether the movie gets a nod or not, the 23-film spy series will be the subject of a special tribute at this year’s ceremony.

The producers of the Academy Awards announced today that the Feb. 24 telecast will take time for a look back at the legacy of the shaken-not-stirred superspy.

“We are very happy to include a special sequence on our show saluting the Bond films on their 50th birthday,” producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron said in a joint statement. “Starting with Dr. No back in 1962, the 007 movies have become the longest-running motion picture franchise in history and a beloved global phenomenon.”

That announcement in and of itself was an unusual move, since most past producers have kept such tributes top secret until the presentation of the show. Zadan and Meron, whose filmography includes Chicago, Hairspray, and The Bucket List among a host of TV credits, have shown an awareness that more people will tune in if you let them know a little about what to expect.

Meron and Zadan didn’t reveal much else about the 007 portion of the show, so there will still be surprises. When the nominations are announced next Thursday, we’ll find out if Bond’s latest outing, Skyfall, ends up getting a best picture nomination, which seems increasingly possible after it received the Producers Guild Nomination this week.

Oscar voting closes today, and the Sam Mendes-directed movie is already likely to get a Best Song nod for Adele’s moody theme. A Best Cinematography bid for Roger Deakins is also good bet, while Javier Bardem’s mutilated, vengeful ex-agent (which earned him a Screen Actors Guild nomination) could also land him in the supporting actor category at the Oscars.

After 50 years with little to no love, Bond may have finally found a way to seduce the Academy.